“What are you talking about?” My voice was shaky. I was angry at whoever had done this and so frustrated with this thick-skulled man. “Because we kissed in my office?” I strode over and cupped his breathtaking face in my hands. “Stop talking like that right now. Just tell me what you know.”
His eyes closed but he reached out and wrapped his arms around my waist. My breakup fears sprouted wings and fluttered away. Fleeing the country had simply been him venting. He wasn’t going anywhere.
He sighed. And then he told me a tale of Fatal Attraction-worthy psychotics like I’d never heard before, only it was real life.Hislife. Without the homicide, thankfully. But still, stalkeresque-type behavior from Amber through the years thatexplained so many things about this man I’d fallen for. No wonder he never wanted to commit.
He tipped his head against mine. “I’m so sorry I pulled you into this.”
My fists curled around his shirt. “You didn’t pull me into anything. Don’t you understand that?” Once again his gaze was down. I tucked myself lower so he had to meet my eye. “You listen right now, Holden Dupree. I am right where I want to be. Nobody pulled me anywhere. I’m a big girl and I can decide for myself. And Amber Taylor isn’t going to scare me off.” I scoffed at such a ridiculous notion. “Do you hear me?”
“But—”
“No buts. The. End. I’m not going anywhere. And if she and I have to meet out in the parking lot and throw down, earrings ripped out, hair extensions on the asphalt, so be it.” We’d had three fights already this year just like the one I described. Girls be crazy sometimes.
A chuckle rumbled in his hard chest. “You have hair extensions?”
“No.” I picked up a lock and studied it. “It’s all mine. But I’ll go get them if that’s what it takes for you to understand that I am out-of-my-mind crazy about you.”
The twitch at the corners of his lips said he wanted to smile, to let it all go. But there was still too much worry in the rest of his face.
“I don’t know, Chris. Maybe it would just be better if I went?—”
I put a finger to his perfect lips, stopping him. “You promised me that my heart would not get broken and if you leave Seddledowne, it will crack right in two.” I shook my head. “Scratch that. Fissures everywhere, shattered to bits, irreparable. Do you want that kind of tragedy on your hands?”
He sighed. “Definitely not. No more broken hearts.” Hedipped his head until our foreheads were touching. “I really want to kiss you right now. But, you know, cameras.”
My hands slid up into the back of his hair. “I say we give her a show. Really tick her off.”
“I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”
I pecked his mouth. “She doesn’t get a say. This is our relationship. And if we want to kiss, we kiss.” I pecked him again, hoping he’d take the bait. He hesitated, lips hovering, our chests inhaling and exhaling in perfect unison. “C’mon.You know you want to kiss me. Our chemistry is ridiculous.” I laughed.
I willed him to be brave. I don’t know if it was metaphysics or magnetic pull but somehow my courage must’ve flowed into him because finally his hands slid up to my cheeks and he pressed his lips against mine. Slowly and carefully, he kissed me and kissed me and kissed me. Until I was downright breathless. When we were done, his eyes flashed up to one of the cameras.
I pulled his face back to mine. “Keep your eyes on me and everything will be fine.”
“That I can do.” His fingers trailed down my neck and he gave me a scared smile. “I’m crazy about you too, beautiful.”
“Good thing.” I pressed one more kiss to his mouth. “’Cause you’re not getting rid of me. Ever.”
“I hope you mean that.” His eyes turned so serious. “Because it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I can’t even promise that it will get better.”
I tapped my forehead against his, once for each word. “Not. Going. Anywhere.”
The door popped open. His hands fell from my waist and I stepped back.
“Tallulah Hawkins is here for her tour,” Silas said.
I gave Holden a small wave and backed out the door. I shook my hands out as I crossed theoffice, trying to roll off what Holden had told me about Amber. How could someone be that crazy? I mean, I got that Holden was hot. Like really hot. But have some self-respect.
When I came into the hall, Tallulah and her mom had their backs to me, studying a Stallion painting on the wall that a former art student had done back in Silas and Holden’s high school days. All I could tell from this angle was that they looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. They had similar builds—thin and tall like models or professional ballerinas. They probably shared outfits on the daily. And they shared the same long, dark hair.
“Well, hello there,” I said with a smile in my voice. They turned and thankfully the gasp that escaped my lungs was miniscule. I immediately wished Mrs. Yancy had been more forthcoming in her information. Because the younger woman, who I assumed to be Tallulah, was pregnant. Possibly seven months along, at least. I wasn’t sure but I’d watched Gabby go full term twice.
We had two other girls in the school who were also expecting but, and I hated to admit it even in my mind, they fit the stereotype. Low income, from uneducated and broken homes. I couldn’t surmise much just by looking but the leather purse the older woman had slung over her shoulder, along with the quality of their clothing, told me they probably had plenty of money. I knew nothing about her home life yet though.
I stepped forward, my hand out. “Christy Thornbury. I’m the principal. It’s nice to meet you, Tallulah.”
“Tally,” the mother corrected. “She goes by Tally.”
